PSALM SEVENTEEN
WHAT IS IN YOUR EYE?
The word 'prayer', found in the Title of this Psalm, is also found
in the title of four other psalms. It is used in Habakkuk 3.1: "A
prayer of Habakku.", simply to point out that Habakkuk is the author
and not the subject of the prayer. Various versions of this psalm have
been sung for hundreds of years - probably more than any other psalm.
In the psalm, a sufferer, in imminent danger, professes his sincere
conformity to God's will and asks for His protection.
The appeal is made to the God who sees everything. "Hear the right"
(Vs.1.), emphasises the need to be honest with God; no deceit, no
play-acting, no pretence before God. "Let judgement in my favour come
from the presence of Thy countenance." "Your eyes shall behold
equities!" God sees everything equal, without prejudice. "Thou hast
proved my heart." You have explored me. The word 'prove' implies
trying, testing, examining. God knew the singer was not a hypocrite.
"Thou hast tried me...smelted me!" David knew his own weakness. He
had not kept himself from wicked ways. Like the child who declared he
could climb the ladder if his daddy held him fast, so the psalmist
sings, "Hold up my goings that my footsteps slip not." David was
conscious of God's marvellous lovingkindness. There is kindness,
lovingkindness, and marvellous lovingkindness in God.
The crux of the song is in the words:- "Keep me as the apple of the
eye." Literally the phrase 'the apple of the eye', is "The little man
or daughter or the black of the eye." It is that part of the eye which
reflects what you are looking at. We are in God's eye because He is
looking at us.
The most important thing in your life is that which is reflected
most in your eye. It is the image of your interest. In the case of a
Christian, the reflection in the eye should be that of Christ. He
should be our consuming interest. Of course we always see what we want
to see. We relate everything to that interest. We protect the 'Image
in the eye'. The work of God is often obstructed by self interest -
the wrong image in the eye. It is only when we turn our eyes upon
Jesus that we get the right reflections.
How marvellous to realise that we are the 'apple' of God's eye. You
are the' little person' in His eye. Remember, that reflection in His
eye, is what we really are before Him - He holds the true equity. The
reflection in His eye when we are under trial, at the moment of
melting, is His own image. We shall be satisfied when we awake in His
likeness.
Copyright (c) 1995, Hedley Palmer. All rights reserved.
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